Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Sputum

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the association between Alzheimer' s disease (AD) and apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism and apoE epsilon4 allele; and to investigate the role of apoE in senile plaque formation.

METHODSDuring the period from 1982 to 2003, 27 portmortem cases of AD from the archival files of Department of Pathology of Beijing Hospital, diagnosed according to the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) criteria, were enrolled into this study. Among the 27 cases studied, there were 23 cases of definite AD and 4 cases of probable AD. Postmortem brain tissues from 67 neurologically unremarkable deceased were used as age-matched controls. Immunohistochemical study for beta-amyloid (Abeta) and Tau protein, as well as immunohistochemical study for Abeta/apoE, were performed in all AD cases using streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) and double immunostaining ( SP/ABC) methods, respectively. Senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the 23 cases of definite AD were further quantified. The apoE genotypes in all cases were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism technologies.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical study for Abeta distinguished 4 different types of senile plaques: diffuse non-neuritic plaques, diffuse neuritic plaques, dense-core neuritic plaques and dense-core non-neuritic plaques. Double immunohistochemistry for Abeta/apoE showed that some senile plaques were positive for both Abeta and apoE. The expression rates for Abeta and apoE in these 4 different types of senile plaques were 4. 28%, 84. 71%, 8.50% and 2.51%, respectively. The positivity rate for Abeta/apoE in diffuse neuritic plaques were significantly higher than those in other 3 types (P < 0.01). The frequency of occurrence of apoE epsilon4 allele in AD was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The numbers of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in AD cases with apoE epsilon4 allele were also significantly higher than those in AD cases without apoE epsilon4 allele (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSApoE polymorphism is associated with AD. The presence of apoE epsilon4 allele carries a higher risk for the development of AD. ApoE may also play an important role in the transformation of diffuse non-neuritic plaques to diffuse neuritic plaques.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibrillary Tangles ; pathology ; Plaque, Amyloid ; pathology ; tau Proteins ; metabolism

To observe the effect of intracarotid administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on the spontaneous electrical activity of area postrema (AP) neurons, 78 spontaneous active units were recorded from 63 sino-aortic denervated Sprague-Dawley rats using extracellular recording technique. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following intracarotid administration of AM (0.3 nmol/kg), the discharge rate of 47 out of 78 units increased markedly from 2.99+/-0.24 to 4.79+/-0.29 spikes/s (P<0.001), 20 units decreased from 3.24+/-0.46 to 1.97+/-0.37 spikes/s (P<0.001), and the remaining 11 showed no response. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) did not change throughout the experimentation. (2) Pretreatment with intracarotid administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (3 nmol/kg) did not change the effects of AM. (3) Following intracarotid injection of NO precursor L-arginine (30 mg/kg), the excitatory effect of AM was attenuated. The above results indicate that AM can excite spontaneous electrical activity of AP neurons, this effect is not mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor but may be attenuated by NO precursor L-arginine.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Adrenomedullin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Area Postrema ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Denervation ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of microinjection of adrenomedullin (AM) into rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in 34 anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following microinjection of AM (10 micromol/L, 200 nl) into the RVLM, MAP, HR and RSNA were significantly increased from 99.09+/-3.32 mmHg, 370.78+/-7.84 bpm and 100+/-0% to 113.57+/-3.64 mmHg (P>0.001), 383.28+/-7.38 bpm (P>0.001) and 123.72+/-2.74% (P>0.001), respectively. (2) Pretreatment with microinjection of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (100 micromol/L, 200 nl) did not change the effects of AM. (3) L-arginine (100 mg/kg, 0.2 ml, i.v.), an NO precursor, abolished the effects of AM. This study demonstrates that AM acting at the rostral ventrolateral medulla may produce significant cardiovascular responses, the effects are not mediated by CGRP receptor but may be abolished by NO.
Adrenomedullin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Kidney ; innervation ; Lateral Thalamic Nuclei ; drug effects ; Medulla Oblongata ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective: To explore the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and atrial fibrillation (AF) by examining peripheral blood level of NLRP3 inlfammasome and other inlfammatory factors in relevant patients.
Method: A total of 60 AF patients were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: Paroxysmal AF (PAF) group and Non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (nPAF) group, n=30 in each group;in addition, there was a Control group including 26 healthy subjects from physical examination. NLRP3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by lfow cytometry;blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP and NT-proBNP were detected by ELISA. The correlations among different factors were studied by liner regression analysis and the differences were compared among groups.
Result:①Compared with Control group, PAF and nPAF groups had increased PBMCs level of NLRP3 and blood levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CRP, NT-proBNP, P<0.05, while NLRP3 level was similar between PAF group and nPAF group, P>0.05.②PAF and nPAF groups showed elevated blood level of NT-proBNP than Control group, P<0.05. ③PBMCs level of NLRP3 was positively related to left atrial diameter (r=0.579, P<0.05) and negatively related to left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.490, P<0.05) in both AF groups.
Conclusion: ① NLRP3 inflammasome was closely related to AF, which may provide a therapeutic target for AF treatment. ② AF was closely related to inflammatory response. ③ Downstream product of NLRP3 may cause the inlfammatory response which could induce the occurrence, development and maintenance of AF in relevant patients.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; enzymology ; Glutathione ; blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical approaches in the diagnosis of hematologic neoplasms in serous effusion.

METHODSThe cytospin and Thinprep smears of effusion specimens were prepared from 23 cases of lymphoid malignancies with histological confirmation and 30 cases of benign effusions used as control. Morphological assessment of the cellular components was conducted, including the ratio of mesothelium to lymphocyte, karyomorphism of lymphoid cell and the presence of apoptosis and mitosis. Immunocytochemical study was performed in all the cases, with flow cytometry in one case.

RESULTSAmong the 23 tumor cases, 14 represented disease relapse, and in the remaining nine cases, the serous effusion was the primary manifestation. The proportion of mesothelium was low in the tumor group, being less than 10% in 20 cases (87.0%, 20/23). It was more than 10% in most of benign cases (20/30, 66.7%). Lymphoid cells were prominent (> 80% cells) in 69.6% of the tumor cases, and the cellular component in some control cases (63.3%, 19/30) showed fewer lymphocytes. Nipple-like projection of lymphocytic nuclei could be detected in almost all the tumor cases (91.3%, 21/23), but was occasionally found in the control group (26.7%, 8/30). Apoptosis and mitosis were obvious in lymphomatous effusion, but observed in only 6.7% of the control cases. Significant difference of the previously mentioned cytomorphologic features existed between the tumor and control groups (P < 0.01). The results of immunocytochemical staining in cell block were identical to the corresponding immunohistochemistry, and one case of mantle cell lymphoma was confirmed by flow cytometry. The cytologic findings seen in all the 23 studied cases were in agreement with the corresponding histologic diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSSome cytomorphologic features, including decreased number of mesothelium, increased number of lymphoid cells, nuclear nipple-like projection, and the presence of apoptosis and mitosis, are very useful for diagnosing lymphoid malignancy in serous effusion. Immunocytochemistry is an important approach to the cytodiagnosis and classification of lymphoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; Ascitic Fluid ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Lymphoma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinicopathologic features of hereditary cutaneomucosal venous malformation (VMCM) in a Chinese family.MethodsFamily history was investigated in a family with VMCM,and tissue specimens were obtained from the lesions of the proband and subjected to histopathological analysis.ResultsAmong 65 members from 5 generations of the family,19 were affected by VMCM,hinting an autosomal dominant inheritance.None of the family members experienced gastrointestinal bleeding,central nervous system disorders,or cardiac defects.Affected individuals usually presented with multiple irregularly sized,blue-violet,elevated and slightly indurated masses located in the oral mucosa and subcutaneous tissue of the extremities.Pathological analysis showed malformed veins with abnormally dilated cavities and irregularly thickened walls.Although small veins were abnormally proliferating and clustered,there was no endothelial discontinuity.The smooth muscle layer was thickned in a varying degree or absent.ConclusionA diagnosis of VMCM is made according to the inheritance manner,clinical manifestation and pathological findings.

AIM AND METHODSUsing double immunohistochemical method for Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on catecholaminergic neurons and the expression of c-fos gene in rat brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation in order to define whether the effects of central administration of adrenomedullin (AM) were induced by activating the catecholaminergic neurons.

RESULTS(1) Following icy administration of AM (3 nmol/kg), Fos-like immunoreactivity neurons were markedly increased in several brain areas of the rat, including the brainstem, the hypothalamus and the forebrain. (2) Following icy administration of AM (3 nmol/kg), double-labeled neurons for Fos and TH increased significantly in the area postrema (AP), the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis (PGL) and the locus coeruleus (LC). (3) Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonism CGRP (8-37) (30 nmol/kg) significantly reduced the action of AM (3 nmol/kg) in the brain.

CONCLUSIONAM activates the nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation in the forebrain, the hypothalamus and the brainstem, and that the central actions of AM are induced by activating the catecholaminergic neurons of brainstem nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation. CGRP receptor can mediate the effects of AM in brain.

Adrenomedullin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; drug effects ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Prosencephalon ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism